Aqueduct: Svea Dahl wires Turnback the Alarm

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Svea Dahl beat With Ability into the first turn then was able to set soft early fractions en route to a surprisingly easy four-length victory in the Grade 3, $108,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap at Aqueduct.

Svea Dahl broke from the rail, and With Ability, the other speed in the race, broke from the outside post in the five-horse field. Under Richard Migliore, Svea Dahl used her rail post to beat With Ability to the first turn. Javier Castellano, the rider of With Ability, seemed content to let Svea Dahl have the lead, and stalked from second position.

With Ability dropped back around the far turn and Svea Dahl had more than enough to kick away from Mystic Lady in the stretch. Critical Eye finished third, followed by With Ability and Along Came Mary.

Svea Dahl ($14.80) covered the nine furlongs in 1:50.42. Winning trainer Bruce Levine said he would point Svea Dahl to the Grade 3, $100,000 Ladies Handicap on Dec. 21.

In the Grade 3, $110,400 Tempted Stakes for juvenile fillies, Chimichurri, ridden by John Velazquez, used the same tactics as Svea Dahl to win. Reheat, under Shaun Bridgmohan, ran second all the way around the track, and finished 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Bonay.

Chimichurri, trained by Todd Pletcher, paid $4.60 as the 6-5 favorite. Pletcher said Chimichurri would most likely be put away for the year and point to the $100,000 Old Hat Stakes at Gulfstream on Feb. 2.